It Is Better to Give Than Receive
by Joseph Parker
When you opened your eyes today did you find yourself in a place of emotional disgust? Are you feeling useless and like your life has no true meaning? Has sickness afflicted your body and made you wonder if life was truly worth living? Well if you have answered yes to any of these questions there is good news for you!! Now is the time that you need to shake off those feelings and give of yourself to others that might be feeling the same way. Reach out your hand to another and help that person carry their burden and you might be amazed at how light your burden really is. Jesus said it is our responsibility to help our brothers and sisters carry their burdens.
He did not excuse us from helping others just because we were sick, or poor, or feeling broken down and useless. We need to reach out all the more because the answer to our problems lie in helping others who are in need just as we are in need. When you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed is exactly the time to go to those in need. To lift their spirits and bring them encouragement, to show the love of Christ by visiting them and speaking a word in due season to them.
It has been scientifically proven that by giving of ourselves activates an area of our brain that is associated with positive feelings. These feelings that we get from helping others can lift our own spirits and bring us from the brink or edge of our own feelings of hopelessness and despair. The more you give of yourself the better you feel, what better medicine can you ever get from a pharmacist or doctor. Altruism can lead to lasting emotional well-being, bringing about a more positive perspective about our own lives. God has given each of us special gifts, not to consume on our own selfish wants and desires but to help others.
Helping others not only brings good feelings to us, but also to the person who is the recipient of our actions. Research has shown that those who reach out and help their fellow man restores feelings of decency, and those who give of themselves have a higher level of mental health. When you have meaning in your life your perspective about life changes towards the better. Not only does helping others benefit the person receiving the kindness you show them but it also benefits the giver. Doing for others is a great way to show the true meaning of love. What better way to show unconditional love than by giving to someone who can not repay you. Do not look to receive anything in return and give to those who possibly have nothing to give of themselves.
Giving also increases your optimism in life which is also proven to increase your quality of life and health. When you are optimistic you are not as likely to give up when the issues of life confront you. Even though they might be very hard to endure, they will be viewed as life’s learning experiences. These experiences become just another challenge to overcome and a chance for God to reveal himself in our lives. A chance to see a true miracle happen and all this comes about by giving of ourselves. Giving of our time, resources and of our hearts. Now that is what true love is really about!
You see giving is always better than receiving, when you give from your heart you have accomplished what our Lord told us about giving. He said that it is better to give than receive. God gave us the ultimate example of giving by sending his son here to earth to be our atonement for sin. What a wonderful and awesome gift, God gave his best for us so we need to do the same when we give of ourselves. How will you follow that example during this holiday season? Will you be hurried about the demands of the season and forget what the true meaning of Christmas really means. I challenge you this very moment to examine what you are thinking about this Christmas. Give from your heart and expect nothing in return. Give to those who can not repay you and you will find that by doing so the burden you are carrying will seem to be lifted from your shoulders.
Go volunteer and help someone in need you can not give a better present this holiday then by giving. This Christmas look for ways to give, give from the heart and openly. You might just find the true meaning of the holiday within yourself by giving to others with nothing to spare. So instead of buying some expensive gift to give away this holiday season why not take that money and donate to the poor, the widows and the homeless. Go volunteer at the food bank or serving food to those in need. I believe that by doing so you will find the reason that God gave you the opportunity to serve, because it will change your outlook and give you a real reason to celebrate this season. Merry Christmas to all and God bless you this holiday season from my family to yours.